New Stevens Neo Classic in sight

[ultra]

Guys,

I just got these progress pics from Michael Stevens for my pending flatback WM Classic.

Although they are of the guitar in the raw (sans finish), I can't contain my excitement and need to share them with you. Feast your eyes

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/356448216.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/356448228.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/356448219.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/356448225.jpg

[BettyFjord]

Absolutely stunning. Congrats on the beautiful guitar.

[wichita]

Amazing looking guitar. Michael is a true Artist.

[drezdin]

beautiful
congrats!

[amc]

Michael Stevens sure makes beautiful guitars...........

[dwes]

Looks great!:RoCkIn

[Trandy]

One day....sigh.

[John Hurtt]

Looks like it's going to be killer!

[Thor]

Just an awesome guitar!!! Love the LJ style cuts on the back and really dig the no F-holes. Great figuring on the top to boot!!!

I am very excited for you and can't wait to see the final product and hear all about it!

-Edward

[aarondavis]

What's the construction method on that guitar? Looks like it's a mahogany body hollowed with a maple top, right? Like a Collins I35?

Looks very nice...! I love the back contouring he's done.

[jjhboots]

Beautiful. May I ask how long you have had that on order?

[TNJ]

What finish?

What pups?

What size/radius of the neck?

I LOVE Stevens guitar...I'll echo Tim B.

(sigh)

Oh..and you're a DAWG! :D

S.
j

[ultra]

Just an awesome guitar!!! Love the LJ style cuts on the back and really dig the no F-holes. Great figuring on the top to boot!!!

I am very excited for you and can't wait to see the final product and hear all about it!

-Edward

Thanks Edward,

I am bonding heavily with it already, albeit over distance :-)

I certainly will be giving it a detailed review and will also compare it to my other korina Classic. Stay tuned.

BTW, any ETA on your bass?

Alex

[ultra]

What's the construction method on that guitar? Looks like it's a mahogany body hollowed with a maple top, right? Like a Collins I35?

Looks very nice...! I love the back contouring he's done..

Construction is mahogany with maple top and tone chambers.

Classics have been in existence since 1982.

Collings has borrowed very heavily from Michael Stevens

The contouring is very cool. The leg contour is also a Stevens concept dating back to the early '80s

[ultra]

What finish?

What pups?

What size/radius of the neck?

I LOVE Stevens guitar...I'll echo Tim B.

(sigh)

Oh..and you're a DAWG! :D

S.
j

TNJ,

The pups will be Tom Holmes H450/H453 unpotted.

The neck is '59 large-ish with 25.5" scale, 6100 frets

It will have a wrapover tailpiece ala Gibson Juniors

The finish will be faded red, think "watermelon"


"Oh..and you're a DAWG! :D" Yah, I know.... and it feels great :)

[ultra]

Beautiful. May I ask how long you have had that on order?


Thanks.

Michael Stevens is quoting 18 months, last time I heard.

You could call him for an update

[TNJ]

Sweet...
Just sweet...

Keep us posted with pix, man.

Hearty congrats!

S.j

[ultra]

Here is a tease pic of my new and impending Stevens Flatback Classic which is finish drying as I type this.

Michael Stevens tells me that it will be buffed out this coming week, assembled and set up.

I can hardly wait to get my hands on it.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/365144990.jpg

[Cobra]

I like the top carve & orange color!

[GaryOz]

Looks beautiful Alex.:BEER

Gary.

[ultra]

Looks beautiful Alex.:BEER

Gary.

Hi Gary,

Good to see you here. Will call you soon.

[Thor]

Man, time flys and now that beauty is almost done, and it is looking killer I must say! Really dig the finish (MS always seems to have a wonderful way with color).

Can't wait for you to get your mits on that thing!

[ultra]

Man, time flys and now that beauty is almost done, and it is looking killer I must say! Really dig the finish (MS always seems to have a wonderful way with color).

Can't wait for you to get your mits on that thing!

Yeah Ed, and yours will be ready soon too, the way these months fly by.

I asked MS for "Watermelon". I'm digging it in a big way.

[Cobra]

Yeah Ed, and yours will be ready soon too, the way these months fly by.

I asked MS for "Watermelon". I'm digging it in a big way.


It looks kinda orange in the photo, but watermelon is a great color.
Anyway, I like it!

[ultra]

It looks kinda orange in the photo, but watermelon is a great color.
Anyway, I like it!

Thanks. The color is not as orange as it looks in the pic. There is a guitar in front of it (cropped out of the pic) which has a korina back and that is giving off a yellow hue into the watermelon.

It will have a Pigtail wrapover

[Tone Disciple]

Man, that looks like it is going to be one sweet guitar!

[ultra]

I've gotta share some more progress pics again

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/365459271.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/365459274.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/365459273.jpg

[teXum]

I've gotta share some more progress pics again

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/365459271.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/365459274.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/365459273.jpg

Nice!

Guess those "progress pics" have you itching now.

[Cobra]

Mmmmm.... Watermelon!
I like the color.
Won't be long now, I imagine...

[ultra]

Mmmmm.... Watermelon!
I like the color.
Won't be long now, I imagine...


Okay ! Shipping in 2 days! I will blind you all with pics when it is in my hands. Oh my, it looks so sweet.

[vandi]

Has the guitar arrived yet? Can't wait to see it!

[ultra]

Shipped and headed my way. pics real soon

Thanks for asking

[mojocaster.com]

Can't wait to see them! :)

[steve rowen]

Kim Rummel stopped by with it today, and I played it a bunch. You won't be disapointed.

[ultra]

Kim Rummel stopped by with it today, and I played it a bunch. You won't be disapointed.

Thanks Steve and thanks for your parts too.

I'm glad you liked the Melon

You must be getting close to having your very own, soon?

A

[steve rowen]

It'll be awhile, Mine is the regular Classic.

[TNJ]

PIX...C'MON MANO!!!!

:D

S.
j

[ultra]

Stand by .................

[BettyFjord]

You're killing me! I cannot wait to see the finished product.

[ultra]

Just minutes man, minutes. Get a grip LOL

[Wheels]

omg, this thread has me salivating! Congrats on the guitar, can't wait to see the pics!

Just going to sit here and hit refresh every few minutes to get thru my work day :)

Wheels

[BettyFjord]

Just minutes man, minutes. Get a grip LOL

Nothing doing! After my own Stevens this is the one I'm most excited about seeing.

[Wheels]

Holy S**T! Is it the one on Stevens' website??


edit: DUH, must be.

[ultra]

OK, OK, OK. Pictures time at long last

Let's give it up for Michael Stevens and his creative genius

This baby has a brand new name and is now called "Neo Classic"

I'm not sure if the new website is up but I can't hold out any longer.

Here she is .... as Thor called her.... The Watermelon Princess

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/371212865.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/371212870.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/371212729.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/371212480.jpg

[ultra]

Back for more..........

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/371212477.jpg

You asked for watermelon?........ you got it

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/371212478.jpg

The Master and his apprentice

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/371212479.jpg

[BettyFjord]

Congratulations on an amazing guitar.

And the site (what's up of it) looks fantastic too. I particularly like this shot:
http://stevensguitars.com/media/2009/neoclassic/DSC01878.jpg

[TaronKeim]

Looks absolutely killer, congrats!

_TJK*

[Wheels]

Watermelon shot is the best! What is the control layout?

[ultra]

The specs:
Anegre top
Mahogany body with tone chambers
Quarter sawn Mahogany neck
25.5" scale
Sperzels
6100 frets
Tom Holmes H450 / H453 push/pull split wiring
1 volume, 2 tones with orange drops
Pigtail wrapover

[Wheels]

Nice, thanks and good luck with your watermelon!

[aarondavis]

That's a kick ass guitar. Congrats!

[Shane S]

Beautiful! The color is outstanding. Like I said in another thread - when things turnaround I am calling Mike to order one of his guitars.

[GuitarsFromMars]

wow.amazing,and striking.

[Jim S]

1. Looks great.

2. Amazing: I thought it was orange until I saw the watermelon pictures!

[aarondavis]

The specs:
Anegre top
Mahogany body with tone chambers
Quarter sawn Mahogany neck
25.5" scale
Sperzels
6100 frets
Tom Holmes H450 / H453 push/pull split wiring
1 volume, 2 tones with orange drops
Pigtail wrapover


What drove the choice to use a simple pigtail bridge? Interesting choice on such an amazing/high end guitar.

[mojocaster.com]

Dang, that is hot!

[ultra]

What drove the choice to use a simple pigtail bridge? Interesting choice on such an amazing/high end guitar.

Aarondavis,

A good question

Looks and simplicity. The tone that emanates from a wrapover is something else. It is so direct. Less parts = less tone suck

The tuning is compromise but Ok. If were to get paranoia about the tuning at anytime in the future, I could install a Pigtail intonated wrapover.

I think that these work a treat and my other Classic has an ABR and stoptail so I have both bases covered.

[aarondavis]

Aarondavis,

A good question

Looks and simplicity. The tone that emanates from a wrapover is something else. It is so direct. Less parts = less tone suck

The tuning is compromise but Ok. If were to get paranoia about the tuning at anytime in the future, I could install a Pigtail intonated wrapover.

I think that these work a treat and my other Classic has an ABR and stoptail so I have both bases covered.

Fair enough. Yeah, I'm assuming you could buy one that fits those studs and go back and forth...

Well, once again... killer guitar. Before I got my Koll DL Thinline I always had a hard time judging the model's size compared to a 335. Is the Neo Classic smaller than a 335? It definitly looks a little bigger than my DL.

[ultra]

Fair enough. Yeah, I'm assuming you could buy one that fits those studs and go back and forth...

Well, once again... killer guitar. Before I got my Koll DL Thinline I always had a hard time judging the model's size compared to a 335. Is the Neo Classic smaller than a 335? It definitly looks a little bigger than my DL.

Thanks.

Yes it it smaller. I don't have a comparison pic of this one but here is an old pic of my Classic compared to my ES345.

The Classic is 25.5" as to 24.75' for the Gibson so keep that in mind also.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/828243/9681891.jpg

[TNJ]

Man, that guit is HOT!

Congrats...I'd be taking time off just to stay at home to break her in!

:cool: :banana

s.
j

[ultra]

Man, that guit is HOT!

Congrats...I'd be taking time off just to stay at home to break her in!

:cool: :banana

s.
j

Thanks Steve,

Too much work lined up to take time off. It will be a busy weekend, for sure.

Bruised finger-tips for sure.

[ultra]

Well I have taken some time off to cool my fingertips and to post some pics of my new Neo Classic and Classic discussing the "state of World politics", or something...... whatever guitars talk about amongst themselves :-)

You can see the differences in appointments and back of the body differences.
The Neo seems to be slightly smaller than the Classic but it is exactly the same. The watermelon color does give that illusion.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/372003842.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/372003846.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/372003847.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/558358/19800066/372003852.jpg

[n.j.]

Damn. Those are two beautiful guitars. Big congratulations.

I'm eagerly awaiting my Classic, maybe coming this fall.

[Thor]

I'm so glad that it made it there safely. Thanks for the great comparison photos. Now, inquirining minds want to know - what are the sonic differences between the two?

[Teleplayer]

Both of those are ugly. I'll take them off your hands for $100.....each.....

:D

[GaryOz]

I know what you guitars are talking about Alex. They are discussing when you are gonna invite me around to play them. :D

Seriously beautiful guitars, congrats.

Gary.

[ultra]

I know what you guitars are talking about Alex. They are discussing when you are gonna invite me around to play them. :D

Seriously beautiful guitars, congrats.

Gary.

Thanks Gary,

Check your email

A

[BettyFjord]

Stunning. Stunning. And stunning.

[dougk]

Stunning. Stunning. And stunning.

Can I add 3 more Stunning to that list? Seriously. mega drool

[ultra]

I'm so glad that it made it there safely. Thanks for the great comparison photos. Now, inquirining minds want to know - what are the sonic differences between the two?

I can hear and feel differences but I feel that it is worth some time in the studio to record, listen and ponder before I make some comments.

Some clean, some high gain and everything in between is my goal.

What I will say is that the Classic is more mellow and refined where the Neo is "brash". I guess that 11 years of being my #1 will have had some effect.

That said, there is an excitement that comes from the Neo Classic.

Sorry, gotta go play it again :-)

[ultra]

I
What I will say is that the Classic is more mellow and refined where the Neo is "brash". I guess that 11 years of being my #1 will have had some effect.
:-)


OK, I spent 3 hours in the studio jamming with a bass player and drummer and alternated between my Classic and my Neo Classic. Possibly not the best scenario because I couldn't totally devote the time to just the sounds of each guitar. You don't pass up the chance to play with these guys so I jumped in.

What it did allow me to do was relax and play without dwelling on how one sounded compared to the other. The recorder was on.

The conclusion that was drawn by me is that the Neo is every bit as playable as my Classic (on which I am totally at home). Switching from one to the other was seamless although the wrapover felt a little strange at the outset.
There is not one spot on the fingerboard that is of lesser quality...... each fretted note in any position had the same glorious ring and sustain to it.

I wrote above that the Neo was "brash" and by that, I meant that it was more "in your face" sound wise than the Classic. This was not meant as a criticism. The sound emanating from it is more immediate than the Classic.
It releases the notes faster than the Classic and is slightly more percussive.
I put that down to the difference between the wrapover and the ABR/Stop.

My perception of the recorded playing is that the Neo has a slightly lower mid range peak than the Classic and ever so slightly scooped...... mahogany as to Korina?.
Maybe the weight is also factor here as the Classic weighs 9lb 7oz and the Neo weighs 8lb 4oz

Each guitar has a complexity that is unsurpassed (in my opinion) by any instrument I have played to date. At any point on the fingerboard, the sustain of the notes played is amazing no matter if they are played hard or soft.

The guys offered an appraisal after our jam and their comments were the same....... they felt that the Classic gave a nod to a Les Paul and the Neo Classic leaned towards a ES335.

As far as I am concerned, they are equal in playability and tonal quality although the tone might be just a little different. The weekend will bring some time to record just the guitars and I will post that review later.

I hope that I haven't waffled too much and that you get the general idea.

The NEO CLassic is a GREAT guitar. I am extremely happy and privileged to own and play it.